2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE winter tires

Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow or ice between the
tires and the road, creating less traction or grip. Wet ice
can occur at about 32°F (0°C) when freezing rain
begins to fall, resulting in even less traction. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the condition. Accelerate
gently so traction is not lost. Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin and makes the surface under
the tires slick, so there is even less traction.
Try not to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too
fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface
under the tires even more.TheTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-8
improves the ability to accelerate on slippery roads, but
slow down and adjust your driving to the road
conditions. When driving through deep snow, turn off
the traction control system to help maintain vehicle
motion at lower speeds.
TheAntilock Brake System (ABS) on page 4-4improves
vehicle stability during hard stops on a slippery roads,
but apply the brakes sooner than when on dry
pavement.
Allow greater following distance on any slippery road
and watch for slippery spots. Icy patches can occur on
otherwise clear roads in shaded areas. The surface
of a curve or an overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while on ice.
Turn off cruise control, if equipped, on slippery surfaces.
4-17

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-4
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements.....5-4
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of the
Vehicle......................................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling the Tank..............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-15
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-19
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-21
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-22
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-23
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-23
Cooling System............................................5-23
Engine Coolant.............................................5-25Engine Overheating.......................................5-29
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-30
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-31
Brakes........................................................5-32
Battery........................................................5-35
Jump Starting...............................................5-36
Rear Axle.......................................................5-40
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-41
Bulb Replacement
..........................................5-42
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-42
Headlamps..................................................5-42
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Fog Lamps......5-43
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps
(Base Level).............................................5-43
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps
(Removable Hardtop).................................5-44
Back-Up Lamps............................................5-44
License Plate Lamp......................................5-45
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-45
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-46
Tires..............................................................5-47
Winter Tires.................................................5-48
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-49
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-50
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-53
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Low-Prole Tires
If your vehicle has P245/45R18 size tires, they are
classied as low-prole tires. These tires are
designed for very responsive driving on wet or dry
pavement. You may also notice more road
noise with low-prole performance tires and that
they tend to wear faster.
Notice:If the vehicle has low-prole tires,
they are more susceptible to damage from road
hazards or curb impact than standard prole
tires. Tire and/or wheel assembly damage
can occur when coming into contact with road
hazards like, potholes, or sharp edged
objects, or when sliding into a curb. The
vehicle warranty does not cover this type of
damage. Keep tires set to the correct ination
pressure and, when possible avoid contact
with curbs, potholes, and other road hazards.
Winter Tires
If your vehicle has P245/45R18 size tires, they are
classied as low-prole performance tires. These tires
are designed for very responsive driving on wet or
dry pavement. If you expect to drive on snow or
ice covered roads often, you may want to get wintertires for your vehicle. The low-prole performance tires
may not offer the traction you would like or the same
level of performance as winter tires on snow or ice
covered roads.
Winter tires, in general, are designed for increased
traction on snow and ice covered roads. With winter
tires, there may be decreased dry road traction,
increased road noise, and shorter tire tread life. After
switching to winter tires, be alert for changes in vehicle
handling and braking.
See your dealer/retailer for details regarding winter tire
availability and proper tire selection. Also, seeBuying
New Tires on page 5-63.
If you choose to use winter tires:
Use tires of the same brand and tread type on all
four wheel positions.
Use only radial ply tires of the same size,
load range, and speed rating as the original
equipment tires.
Winter tires with the same speed rating as your original
equipment tires may not be available for H, V, W, Y,
and ZR speed rated tires. If you choose winter tires with
a lower speed rating, never exceed the tire’s maximum
speed capability.
5-48

Different Size Tires and Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are a different size than
your original equipment wheels and tires, this may
affect the way your vehicle performs, including its
braking, ride and handling characteristics, stability, and
resistance to rollover. Additionally, if your vehicle
has electronic systems such as, antilock brakes, traction
control, and electronic stability control, the performance
of these systems can be affected.
{CAUTION:
If you add different sized wheels, your vehicle may
not provide an acceptable level of performance
and safety if tires not recommended for those
wheels are selected. You may increase the
chance that you will crash and suffer serious
injury. Only use GM specic wheel and tire
systems developed for your vehicle, and have
them properly installed by a GM certied
technician.
SeeBuying New Tires on page 5-63andAccessories
and Modifications on page 5-3for additional information.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which
grades tires by treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States. The grades are
molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car
tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver, or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they must also conform
to federal safety requirements and additional
General Motors Tire Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
5-65

Tire
Pressure Light.............................................3-29
Tire Sealant
Storing.......................................................5-89
Tires.............................................................5-47
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels,
Cleaning.................................................5-96
Buying New Tires........................................5-63
Chains.......................................................5-70
Cleaning....................................................5-96
Different Size..............................................5-65
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-70
Ination - Tire Pressure................................5-53
Inspection and Rotation................................5-60
Pressure Monitor Operation...........................5-56
Pressure Monitor System..............................5-54
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit...........5-71, 5-80
Tire Sidewall Labeling..................................5-49
Tire Terminology and Denitions....................5-50
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-65
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-67
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-67
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-62
Winter Tires................................................5-48
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-25
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-25
Your Vehicle...............................................4-25Traction
Control System (TCS).................................... 4-8
Limited-Slip Rear Axle..................................4-10
Traction Control System...................................3-27
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-22
Fluid, Manual..............................................5-23
Transmission Operation, Automatic....................2-19
Transmission Operation, Manual........................2-22
Trunk.............................................................. 2-8
Trunk Ajar Light
..............................................3-33
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-6
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-65
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-3
Loading......................................................4-20
Parking Your...............................................2-26
Running While Parked..................................2-28
Symbols......................................................... iv
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy..................7-15
11

Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN).............................................5-98
Service Parts Identication Label...................5-98
Vehicle Personalization
DIC ...........................................................3-41
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-19
Visors...........................................................2-12
W
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators...............3-19
Warnings
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-37
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-5
Safety and Symbols......................................... iii
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................5-67
Different Size..............................................5-65
Replacement...............................................5-67Windows.......................................................2-10
Manual......................................................2-11
Power ........................................................2-11
Windshield
Washer........................................................ 3-9
Washer Fluid..............................................5-31
Wiper Blade Replacement.............................5-46
Wiper Blades, Cleaning................................5-95
Wipers......................................................... 3-8
Winter Driving................................................4-17
Winter Tires...................................................5-48
X
XM Radio Messages.......................................3-67
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System................3-81
Y
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................... 6-2
12